Disneynature dives in ‘Ocean’

Studio gets N.America, Mexico rights for 3-D doc

Disneynature has picked up the rights to distribute “OceanWorld 3D” in North America and Mexico.

Documentary, which guides audiences through Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Argentina’s Peninsula Valdez and Mexico’s shark-infested Roca Partida Island from the viewpoint of a sea turtle, is touted as the first feature-length nature docu filmed and released entirely in 3-D.

The Mouse House has yet to lock down a release date for the pic from London-based 3-D Entertainment, but it will begin unspooling in France and Russia in August.

Movie, which bowed at the Cannes Film Festival, was helmed and produced by Jean-Jacques and Francois Mantello, also behind “Sharks 3D,” “Ocean Wonderland 3D” and “Dolphins and Whales 3D: Tribes of the Ocean.” It features Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the underwater docu vet Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Docu took seven years to produce and involved 25 expeditions and 200 hours of footage shot in 3-D.

“This is exactly the kind of film that Disneynature is striving to make,” said Jean-Francois Camilleri, exec VP-general manager for Disneynature.